Monday, March 27, 2006
1 Peter 2:21 For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow in His steps.
CALLED TO SUFFER?
Here in chapter 2 of Peter's first epistle we have him giving us some perspective from Jesus' Passion on how to deal with things when we find ourselves suffering for doing good, having to endure some hardship be-cause we are believers. We are to submit to it willingly as our Savior did.
I can already hear the questions. "Hey, wait a minute. This isn't something I signed up for. It is hard enough going through suffering that I have coming to me because of something I did wrong. But what is this? Suffering because I have done good? It's time for me to get off -- that does not sound like anything I need to be associated with!"
And yet it is true, as we read: "For to this you were called . . ." Jesus does not want us to be ignorant of what "this" is. In Luke 9 (vv. 57-62) we find Jesus Himself speaking very clearly of the importance of counting the cost involved in being His disciples. The words Peter here writes to slaves are words that we can easily apply to ourselves. There will be times when God will call upon us to suffer even if what we have done is good.
How do we face a situation like this? Peter writes, "Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps." Peter directs us to Jesus Himself. That is how we are to know how to face "suffering for doing what is good" -- Jesus faced the same thing, and we are to look to Him and see how He did it.
What do we find? Peter tells us, "He committed no sin, nor was guile found in His mouth . . . when He was reviled, He did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously; He Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree; by His stripes you were healed."
May God help us always to look to Jesus as our example, as we see Him suffer for doing good. And may our thanks ever be to God that by our Savior's suffering we have forgiveness for our failings, and the strength to go on "living for righteousness."
